A blog featuring Japanese kimono for sale, kimono for show, artisan crafts, and general cultural discussions.

August 27, 2012

Making Kimono Smell Better

If you aren't in Japan (and even if you are) and you buy a secondhand kimono, chances are, it was stored with mothballs at some point. And since many Japanese folks smoke, it might have a musty smell, too. Ugh! How irritating! And how difficult that is when older kimono can be so fragile, and can't be cleaned or even dry-cleaned without risk of damage.

So, what to do?

As for myself, I burn benzoin resin close by (but sufficiently away from the kimono- no getting smoke damage or residue on them!) to help rid the smell. Airing them out frequently helps a lot, and some of the more resilient fabrics like wool or hemp can be Febreze-d or washed. Another thing I do when bringing them out of storage or unpacking them upon arrival is burn incense in the room with the kimono hanging on the wall.

This week, I'm holding a sale at my Ebay page, as it's my first year as a seller of pagan supplies, incenses, etc. on there. If you want a deal on cone incense (much less messy than stick incense), check it out! I also have brass incense burners for $2.50, which I can add to any invoice upon request.

The listings will expire in one week, and Buy It Now options are available for those who don't want to wait around for a bidding war.